Ahhh!!!

The small figure shot upright in bed! A child of only a few years clutched his face in terror, gasping great lungfuls of air.

His pupils trembled unnaturally, as if confronted by something beyond comprehension.

Footsteps pounded urgently from outside his room.

“Xiao Ge?!”

The door crashed open. Harsh sunlight flooded the dim room. But the boy froze at the girl’s voice.

“How… how can this be…”

He slowly, slowly lowered his hands from his face, turning toward the door with impossible slowness.

“Xiao Ge, what’s wrong?!”

The girl rushed to his bedside, worry etching her features as she stared at her little brother.

“Sis… Sister?!”

His mouth worked soundlessly. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

*Didn’t I die?*

Holding Lia in the rubble. The carpet bombing that followed. He should have died there. So why…

“What happened? Are you hurt?!”

She reached out, touching his forehead—checking his temperature. But she’d find nothing amiss.

—This boy was him, yet not him anymore.

“Sister… is it really you?!”

His small hands seized her arm, yanking himself closer.

“What are you saying? Of course I’m your sister!”

She frowned, confused.

“Thank goodness…”

Tears instantly blurred his vision. But he’d never forget that ice-blue hair—Ouyang Shi’s signature color.

“Sob… thank goodness…”

Tears spilled like a broken dam, soaking the quilt beneath him.

Ouyang Shi panicked.

“What’s wrong? Tell me what happened!”

Her heart churned into chaos. His sudden shift made no sense. Yet seeing his tear-streaked smile, her chest tightened painfully.

“N-nothing. I’m just… so happy…”

He wiped his cheeks, forcing a smile.

“Happy?”

“Yes! Happy!”

“You’re strange. Sick as you are, what’s there to be happy about?”

“Hehe…”

He just smiled mysteriously. Memories flooded back. He’d lived only to find his missing sister. Now, his deepest wish stood before him. How could he not be overjoyed?

“Rest properly. Your body’s weak—you can’t get worked up like this.”

She gently pressed him back onto the bed, her smile warm.

“Rest now. I’ll check on you in a few hours.”

She tapped his smooth forehead, then rose. The girl with ice-blue hair left the room.

“………”

Ouyang Ge still couldn’t grasp it. He stared blankly at the ceiling. He knew this room. Every memory lived here—good, bad, and the ache for his sister.

“But why…”

His right hand emerged from the quilt. He stared at the strange tattoo on its back—the one that had marked his entire career.

“It’s still here?!”

The Reaper’s emblem—a hooded figure wielding a scythe—remained. This bizarre truth unsettled him. Had this mark pulled him back through time?

Yes. Seeing his sister confirmed it—he’d returned twenty years into the past.

Back to childhood. Before the Ouyang Clan’s downfall. When the house was still peaceful. Still quiet. Still… unwelcoming to him.

“This is enough. As long as Sister’s here, I’ll…”

He clenched his fist until his whole arm trembled. Unshakable resolve burned in his eyes.

***

Ouyang Shi walked slowly down the wooden hallway. Though worried about her brother, duty called. She couldn’t linger by his sickbed—not when his safety depended on her compliance.

Time slipped away. She stopped before a door.

“Finish this first… so I can see Xiao Ge again sooner.”

She slapped her cheeks, steeling herself. Her expression shifted as she pushed the door open.

Antique elegance filled the room. Every wooden furnishing was carved from rare timber—masterpieces money couldn’t easily buy. Only connoisseurs would recognize their true worth.

An older man and a noblewoman sat on carved chairs, smiling at their daughter.

“Good afternoon, Father. Mother…”

Ouyang Shi bowed stiffly.

“Xiao Shi, finished your morning studies?”

Her father set down his teacup, beaming.

“Yes. My tutor said there’s nothing left to teach me.”

“Remarkable! My daughter never disappoints! Hahahaha!”

*Tch…*

Beneath her blank face, she caught the noblewoman’s irritated click of the tongue.

“I’ll take my leave.”

“Go on. Don’t be late for your afternoon Magic session. We have high hopes for you.”

He waved dismissively.

“………”

Ouyang Shi left without hesitation.

*That woman… doesn’t care about Xiao Ge at all. Same blood, yet…*

At the door, she clenched her fists, biting back words.

No time to dwell. It was already 12:30 PM. Lunch waited—and without her help, Ouyang Ge couldn’t even walk to the dining hall. Every day, she carried this duty. However exhausted she was, seeing her brother was her solace.

“He must be starving. I’ll bring his meal!”

Energized, she turned toward the dining hall.

***

***

*Environment confirmed… movement space secured. Now…*

Old habits died hard. After his sister left, Ouyang Ge slipped into silence. No sleep—just listening. As he recalled, no one passed his room. It was tucked in the farthest corner.

His eyes scanned the shabby space. Unchanged.

“How cruel. But!”

He threw off the quilt and stood.

“Tch. This body…”

No weakness. Muscles thrummed with adult strength.

“Damn it… my body’s healed, but what year is it? Must I waste time adapting?!”

The door opened.

He whirled, eyes sharp with lethal intent.

“Xiao Ge, you—”

Ouyang Shi flinched, the tray in her hands rattling. For a heartbeat, she felt like prey before a beast. Then the feeling vanished.

“Sister…”

Ouyang Ge exhaled, relaxing. He tried to stand.

“Don’t move! You’re too weak!”

She set down the tray and rushed to push him back onto the bed.

“Why no footsteps? I thought no one was coming…”

“Hehe. My Magic is special. Silencing steps is easy. I didn’t want to wake my sweet brother.” She scolded him gently, stroking his cheek. “Don’t push yourself. You’re still fragile.”

“I just…”

“Hush.”

Her finger pressed his lips closed.

“Eat. You must be hungry.”

She lifted a piece of meat on her chopsticks to his mouth.

“Open wide~”

“Mm…”

Though eight years old in body, twenty-six-year-old Ouyang Ge flushed. He opened his mouth obediently.

“There we go. Grow strong, Xiao Ge. When you grow up, you’ll marry me!”

“Huh?!”

He nearly choked on the meat.

“Silly! You said it yourself—you’d marry big sister when you grew up!”

“I… I…”

He stalled, scrambling to recall if he’d ever said that.

Not the time.

“I know…”

He took the rice bowl, eating the familiar flavors slowly.

“Good boy. But you must stay in bed longer. The doctor says your illness is severe. With Magic’s help, you might live normally someday. And I…” Her eyes softened. “I can’t wait to see you walk freely.”

“I’ll wait…”

He nodded firmly.

“Because I’m marrying you, right?”

“Ah!!”

Ouyang Shi gasped, pulling him into a tight hug.

“You make Sister so happy! Promise you’ll marry me! I’ll wait for you, Xiao Ge!”

“Mm…”

He said it to please her. Blood ties were forbidden. Society would never accept it.

He didn’t see his sister’s face twist—just for a moment—into something feverish.

Lunch ended quickly. Duty called in the afternoon. Reluctantly, Ouyang Shi gathered the dishes and left.

Only when the door closed did Ouyang Ge breathe freely.

He threw off the quilt again, sitting upright.

“No matter what… I must regain my strength. My future depends on it.”

But, what exactly...

Ouyang Ge stared at the red tattoo on the back of his right hand, lost in thought.

In the past, at this age, he’d suffered from a severe illness—congenital muscular dystrophy, deemed incurable. Born with limited mobility, he grew weaker over time, unable to even stand. Only after countless trials did he rebuild his body and shine in the mercenary world.

"Muscle strength is sufficient," he muttered, "but my height and limb proportions are off."

He got out of bed and stood on the floor.

After quick deliberation, he drafted a series of enhancement plans—but time was scarce.

"No time to waste. I’ll head out for a walk now."

Changing into clean clothes and slipping on his shoes, he left the room. Unseen by him, around the corner, Ouyang Shi lingered, yearning for one last glimpse of her brother’s sleeping face....